STEVE INSKEEP, host:
And now let's turn from the science of annoying to the art of it. Our guide is another well-known public radio voice. We've got team coverage on this story.
JIM NAYDER: My name is Jim Nayder, and I am host of the "Annoying Music Show."
INSKEEP: For 15 years now, Nayder has been proudly serving-up some of the most irritating sounds on the dial.
Unidentified Child: (Singing) Somewhere over the rainbow...
INSKEEP: Oh, that's not annoying. People seem to love this music
NAYDER: Annoying music is an art form that many listeners don't grasp because the gist of annoying music is, it has to be a serious attempt. Bad music, you shut off the radio. Annoying music is like a train wreck. You don't want to look, but you have to.
(Soundbite of song)
Unidentified Man: (Singing) And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon, little boy blue and the man on the moon. When you coming home, Dad? I don't know when but we will get together then. You know we will have a good time...
NAYDER: People are just stopped in their tracks. You know? It's like, oh my God, is this joke? And then when you find out it's not a joke, it just stays in your head, literally, for 24 hours.
INSKEEP: That's "Annoying Music Show" host Jim Nayder, who spends his life on that tightrope between annoying and fun.
NAYDER: I'd like to go out with William Shatner, and his tribute to Bob Dylan.
(Soundbite of song, "Mr. Tambourine Man")
CHORUS: Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man...
Mr. WILLIAM SHATNER (Actor): Mr. Tambourine Man...
CHORUS: ...play a song for me. Ooh-ooh...
INSKEEP: Sung with feeling.
It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.
RENEE MONTAGNE, host:
And I'm Renee Montagne.
Mr. SHATNER: Mr. Tambourine Man...
CHORUS: Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man...
Mr. SHATNER: Mr. Tambourine Man. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.